CHAPTEH V 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS OF THE SOCIETY OF ZOO- 

 LOGY, 'NATURA ARTIS MAGISTRA,' AMSTERDAM : 

 DIRECTOR, DR. C. KERBERT 



The Zoological Gardens at Amsterdam are the third 

 oldest institution of their kind in Europe, the Jardin 

 des Plantes coming first, and the London Zoological 

 Gardens second. Besides the Gardens of the Society 

 of Zoology, ' Natura artis magistra,' Amsterdam pos- 

 sesses a large Aquarium, a Zoological Museum, and 

 a Scientific Library of Natural History. 



Encouraged by the success of the Zoological Gardens 

 in London, M. G. F. Westerman of Amsterdam con- 

 ceived the idea of founding a similar institution in his 

 native town. However, his initial efforts in 18 30 

 failed. At length an opportunity presented itself. 

 M. K. Draak, a great student of natural history, who 

 possessed an important private collection of stufted 

 birds, fishes, etc., valued at 8,000 francs at least, 

 wished to transfer them into more spacious quarters. 

 In order to achieve this, he sought the assistance of 

 M. Westerman, known throughout Europe for his 

 interest in natural history. He, on his part, always 

 ready to assist anyone fond of natural history, suc- 

 ceeded in obtaining a site in 1837, and built and 



